The Montreal Canadiens will be without one of their top-line wingers for at least a week.
The team announced that Juraj Slafkovsky has an upper-body injury and will be sidelined for one week, after which he will be reevaluated.
The 2022 first-overall pick skated on his own ahead of Tuesday’s optional skate, but left the ice as the main group arrived.
Though the team did not disclose when Slafkovsky suffered the injury, he did leave Friday’s practice early and was uncertain to play on Saturday before he ultimately suited up against the New York Islanders.
The 20-year-old has one goal and five assists through six games this season playing alongside Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield.
Head coach Martin St. Louis confirmed that Kirby Dach will slide up to the first line and Oliver Kapanen will take Dach’s spot on the second line against the New York Rangers.
The Canadiens also announced that forward Michael Pezzetta will make his season debut on Tuesday.
Pezzetta, 26, played 61 games with the Canadiens in 2023-24, scoring three goals and recording 12 points.